Time to settle this once and for all.

[vmxa1]

Non-Religious civs want to get out of despotism ASAP and they do not want to make another switch to anything.
This means going to Republic, under most conditions (can you say AU208). Once there you do not want to spend research time learning Demo and you sure do not want to take the hit to switch and you don't need to do it.
Speedy workers are not a big deal by the time I come up with the tech to use Demo, I will have enough workers to do the job.

The depends part is just for a rare set of unusal circumstances for non-religious civs. If you are religious, that is another story.
It is likely that it is best to research only Republic and not have to learn Monarchy/Rep/Dem. Those are non required techs and as such are better skipped. You can get them dirt cheap much later.
Notice I never mentoned Communism, it is way too late and onerous.

[vmxa1]

I just looked at the poll and it is really shocking to see so many for Dem, are these Regent games? Really want to wait for Dem and stick with it at higher levels as a non religious civ? Actually in this poll even a religious civ would be beter off with Rep. You would be stuck in despost for such a long time.

[Panag]

hi ,

DemocraZy without a doubt

followed by republic


have a nice day

[G'Kar]

Arrian's answer was correct, it depends.

But Monarchy is the most flexible.

[Alex]

Where's the banana?

Well, I'd have to say Republic. By the time I switch to Republic, I don't really need Democracy (not for the bonus it provides, anyway) and Republic seems to be pretty flexible to me - I don't have problems waging war during this period.

[grappleman]

time to redo the whole kit and kaboodle of this thread. heres why, the new ign review gives us this information:
"Republican governments will find it much harder to wage war now as their unit support cost has been doubled. That's right, doubled. While it sounds harsh, it definitely helps emphasize the distinction between the warmongering governments and the more peaceful ones. "

Looks like after c3c the love for republic might change

[Ljube]

I never switch between governments, so despotism is the best form of government for my style of play.

Democracy and Republic are completely out of the question being inappropriate for deity level; monarchy can challenge despotism in certain conditions (if the land is particularly good so the cities can grow fast and support larger armies more easily). Communism is nice, but at the time it becomes available, loss of several turns in anarchy could very easily prove lethal.

If I'm religious, I'll switch to monarchy and later to communism and sometimes even to republic (very rarely though).

[GhengisFarb™]

Typically the Republic to Democracy switch never happens for me. I'm either in a dead heat to gain dominion and can't afford the anarchy or so far dominant it doesn't matter.

[Alex]

Originally posted by grappleman
time to redo the whole kit and kaboodle of this thread. heres why, the new ign review gives us this information:
"Republican governments will find it much harder to wage war now as their unit support cost has been doubled. That's right, doubled. While it sounds harsh, it definitely helps emphasize the distinction between the warmongering governments and the more peaceful ones. "

Looks like after c3c the love for republic might change

this is really interesting, but it may ultimately reduce the choices opened up to the player. after all, USA is a so-called democracy and they wage war as if there is no tomorrow.

[lorddread]

Best Government

Federal Republic

It is the best gov ever conceieved for this game.

No other gov can come close to it

[bvoncranium]

For Civ3PTW, in most games I'll follow a pattern like this:

1) Early in the game when I need to expand and have few resources, DESPOTISM is fine as long as it makes economic sense. If I'm on a small map and quickly forced into war, I may remain there until the opposition is no longer a concern.

2) When expansion begins to slow or corrupt, I'll switch to REPUBLIC to turn my empire into a productive and lucrative one (better tile production / lower corruption).

For many games that's as far as the government will evolve. The war weariness in Republic is not a big issue in most games, as I've been fortunate enough to have run short, hard-hitting wars when I have the choice.

3) If I'm running a Religious Civ, and am on a larger map, I sometimes switch to DEMOCRACY in peace, to get the Worker acceleration during territorial development, and the lower corruption.

Finally, when I'm far enough ahead in a peaceful game (rare), I pick up Communism, usually not to switch to it, but rather because to build a few Police Stations (still a relatively low priority though).

Obviously no one recipe works, as Civ is a situational game, but the above pattern has led to repeated success.

All the best, bvc

[Asmodean]

I'm a peaceful empire builder so I mostly play demo. Whenever I decide to go on the war path, I usually switch to Republic, but really I hate it, 'cause I lose the fast workers.

Asmodean

[pedrojedi]

My government switches go usually fine with non-religious civs, so I usually afford the desp-rep-demo line. If I'm planning a constant war game, then it goes desp-mon-(maybe)comm. During the last few days, I made some brainstorming about paying workers for improvements, and got to the conclusion that it could worth it, with the right handling.

But, if I had to choose just one... Demo.

[zorbop]

I am surprised so many people chose democracy. Personally, i find that i already have so many workers the worker bonus is useless, and the corruption change is small, it does not make up for teh war weariness....

[Panag]

Originally posted by zorbop
I am surprised so many people chose democracy. Personally, i find that i already have so many workers the worker bonus is useless, and the corruption change is small, it does not make up for teh war weariness....

hi ,

maybe its because all those people have found the benefits of democraZy , .....

have a nice day